2013 Award of Excellence 2013 Award of Excellence 2013 Award of Excellence

The Award of Excellence is the

highest employee recognition

achievement at Allina Health.

This award honors individuals

and teams who are living Our

Promise by demonstrating

exceptional care for our patients,

our communities and each other.

Each recipient has played a key

role in helping the individuals

and communities we serve on

their path to better health.

Congratulations to each of our 2013 Award of Excellence recipients.

Suresh Ahanya, MD, actively demonstrates compassionate, collaborative, respectful leadership. As Medical Director of the United Birth Center at Minnesota Perinatal Physicians, he is respected by the health care team, patients and families for his dedication to quality and safe care.

Dr. Ahanya is a regular member of the Perinatal Quality Committee. His vast knowledge of current clinical practice guidelines and expertise guides the United Birth Center in best practices. He strives for clinical excellence and teamwork through active participation in all United Birth Center initiatives, committees and the Pregnancy Care Council at Allina Health.

Above all else, Dr. Ahanya provides a compassionate approach to patient care that makes all the difference in the world to his patients. He’s known to take the time necessary to comfort patients. “I treat others the way I would like to be treated,” says Dr. Ahanya. “Clinically, all patients need similar medical services, but their cultural and emotional needs are unique. By listening to their concerns, providing them with information, support and comfort, I can help improve their experience.”

Dr. Ahanya is an active contributor to innovative and adaptive changes as a member of numerous committees. His participation demonstrates his commitment to providing exceptional care, teamwork and a thriving environment for professional development. Cindy Betz, United Hospital patient care manager, describes Dr. Ahanya with a quote by John C. Maxwell: “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way.”

Suresh Ahanya, MD Medical Director of the United Birth Center at Minnesota Perinatal Physicians

As a chaplain at Allina Hospice, Reverend James Cassidy has gone above and beyond to make a difference in the lives of those he helps. For more than 30 years, he has developed trusting, respectful relationships and provided compassionate care for hospice patients and their families.

Reverend Cassidy has also made a difference in the lives of thousands of South Africans through Arm in Arm in Africa, a non-profit organization he co-founded. The organization provides food, medical supplies, love and support to people in need. Emergency food shelf supplies are currently being provided four times a year for 115 families in the village of Malengeni.

Reverend Cassidy has been instrumental in helping Arm in Arm in Africa raise thousands of dollars to continue providing these services. More than 95 percent of funds raised go directly to projects serving people in need. While in South Africa, Reverend Cassidy has helped community members by installing a new floor in an HIV clinic, setting up a hospice program in the township of Guguletu and establishing an emergency food distribution program.

Many others have been inspired to give their time, talent, money and supplies to support this cause. In the past 12 years more than 150 individuals have traveled to South Africa for volunteer mission trips with Reverend Cassidy, and thousands of pounds of medications and various health care supplies have been donated by dozens of supportive individuals. Many lives have been transformed thanks to the care, compassion and service that he has dedicated his life to providing.

Reverend James CassidyChaplain at Allina Hospice

As a staff nurse at Mercy Hospital, James Danielson, RN, demonstrates leadership through his involvement with the Green Alert Steering Committee and workgroup. His recognition of a need for improved safe patient de-escalation led to the development of a program with higher safety standards. “My goal is to help keep patients and nurses safer,” said Danielson.

Before the Green Alert Training system was created, Danielson completed a literature review of practice and discussed both the strengths and challenges of the management system throughout Allina Health. Working in collaboration with executive leadership and the Minnesota Nurses Association, he developed the Green Alert Training system; a best practice approach to crisis management. The system has increased safety with improved patient satisfaction outcomes, decreased use of restraints and decreased injury to staff and patients.

Elizabeth Voss, RN, Mercy Hospital, says that Danielson is “a visionary who understands the importance of including all key stakeholders when developing sustainable change.” He practices the art of nursing with the intention of caring because “each individual we work with or care for matters.”

In addition to his contributions to Green Alert training, Danielson is a caring voice on the Staffing Advisory Council, Labor Management Council and Nursing Care Delivery Committee. He is sought after to teach Green Alert training to other community care providers such as the Barbara Schneider Foundation. Through his actions, Danielson lives by an important part of the Allina Health mission statement: “Do the right thing every time.”

James Danielson, RNMercy Hospital

As a patient care manager in the Medical Surgical Unit at Buffalo Hospital, Raelene Fairchild is a passionate leader who lives the Allina Health values of integrity, respect, trust, compassion and stewardship. “It’s a privilege to work for Allina Health where there is a true commitment to the mission, employees are valued and goals are achieved through teamwork and genuine caring,” says Fairchild.

To her, patient care comes first and foremost, and she helps staff see the importance of intentional caring and presence. Under her leadership, patient experience scores have risen from 46 percent in 2008 to 78 percent in 2012.

Fairchild’s dedication to her team has also made a positive impact on staff members. The employee engagement score soared from 68 percent to 86 percent over the course of several months under her leadership. The score continues to rise, reaching 97 percent in 2012. According to Fairchild, “It’s my greatest passion to help my staff learn and grow and become the best at making a difference in the lives of our patients, families and one another.” She does this by supporting the professional development of her staff, supporting opportunities for their growth through formal education, committee participation or work toward being a preceptor.

She inspires and challenges staff members to strive to achieve goals they may have thought were impossible. In the words of a co-worker, “Every time I witness Raelene’s leadership abilities, I am blown away by the qualities and skills she possesses. Raelene makes me want to work harder and if there is one person I want to emulate in my profession, it’s her. She is always positive and makes patient care her top priority.”

Raelene FairchildPatient care manager in the Medical Surgical Unit at Buffalo Hospital

As the manager of the Diagnostic, Sleep Center, Environmental and Materials Management Services at St. Francis Regional Medical Center, Jimly Harris lives by one of her favorite sayings, “The purpose of life is to be useful, to be responsible, to be compassionate. It is, above all, to matter, to count, to stand for something, to have made some difference.”

Through her innovative leadership, St. Francis Regional Medical Center became the second hospital in the nation to offer “mammo parties” as a means of reaching out to women of all ages to promote annual mammograms. Harris and her team have worked tirelessly over the past two years to obtain American College of Radiology (ACR) accreditation of imaging modalities, and the team has now moved on to help the accreditation of imaging services provided at off-site hospital locations.

Harris assumed leadership of the Environmental Services Department several years ago. A national Certificate of Merit by the Association for the Healthcare Environment confirmed the outstanding contributions she and her staff made through their efforts to improve patient care and prevent hospital acquired C. Difficile infection.

Her desire to care for others goes beyond the departments she manages. Harris volunteers as a team leader for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life each year, is a member of the Savage Rotary and a board member of the Southern Valley Alliance for Battered Women. In addition, she volunteers for Habitat for Humanity and Feed My Starving Children events.

In the words of Radiology Supervisor Jennifer Kroska, “Besides being a joy to work with, Jimly is dedicated to St. Francis and the community. With her positive energy anything is possible.”

Jimly HarrisManager of the Diagnostic, Sleep Center, Environmental and Materials Management Services at St. Francis Regional Medical Center

As an RN in the oncology/infusion center at the Virginia Piper Cancer Institute at New Ulm Medical Center, Pat Hartman searches for new ways to bring joy to patients and other staff members through celebrations. “I look for ways to do things that will impact patients in a positive way,” she says.

When a patient undergoing chemotherapy was wondering what to do with the turkeys on his hobby farm, Hartman planned a turkey dinner. That event turned into a huge annual celebration, which now includes approximately 300 staff members, patients and family members.

Ronda Netzke, patient information clerk at New Ulm Medical Center, has known Hartman for 17 years. Throughout the years, Netzke says, Hartman has always remained positive, every day, for every patient. “It’s an expectation I see out of her, because that’s the way she is,” said Netzke. “She’s upbeat, she smiles all the time, she doesn’t sweat the small stuff and she treats patients like they’re family.”

When a patient with a terminal illness who Hartman was assisting expressed concern that he and his family had plans to attend an upcoming Minnesota Twins game out in the heat, she took it upon herself to call the Minnesota Twins office. That call resulted in complimentary family tickets for the Twins Legends Club, so the patient and his family could enjoy the game from an air-conditioned room. “This goes above and beyond anything I have ever heard of during my time here,” said Netzke.

Pat Hartman, RN RN in the oncology/infusion center at the Virginia Piper Cancer Institute at New Ulm Medical Center

Lou Ann Klosner, materials handler at Unity Hospital, approaches her work according to an important part of Our Promise: “It’s the small things we do every day that will define us.” Although Klosner may not deal directly with patient care, she plays a key role in creating a positive patient experience – putting her heart and soul into each and every thing she does for families, visitors and her team.

Klosner’s actions demonstrate that small actions can often make a significant impact. When a patient’s husband who had stepped away from his wife’s bedside to purchase a beverage in the cafeteria returned empty-handed, he muttered that ‘today was just not his day.’ Klosner set her lunch down, found just what he was looking for and purchased the beverage for him. Her kindness and compassion toward this individual and many others continues to leave a lasting impression.

Klosner gives her unqualified best effort every day at Unity Hospital. She has an innate ability to nurture and strengthen the personal relationships she has created across departments as she coordinates the receiving and management of materials.

She has received multiple recognitions from appreciative team members thanking her for going above and beyond to track down a shipment, handle a difficult product return, work through a break or meal to assist a co-worker, and watch for specific shipments that are critical to nursing units.

Treena Nesius, materials manager at Unity Hospital, stated, “Lou Ann proves that our principals are more than words written in a handbook or on a piece of paper — they are a driving force in what she does every day here at Unity Hospital.”

Lou Ann Klosner Materials handler at Unity Hospital

Beth Millage, physical therapist at Mercy Hospital, models respect and trust in actions and words. She’s driven by a desire to ensure patients have an exceptional experience; often going above and beyond to tackle small details that make a big difference.

Because she sees the benefit of continuity of care as it relates to patient progress, she’s quick to volunteer to help her colleagues with their patients or help a new patient so they have a primary therapist. She furthers this commitment by leading outpatient team meetings and maintaining the team log to ensure discharge plans are in place.

Although Millage is humble about her own contributions, she’s quick to recognize both colleagues and patients for their good work. She nominates deserving patients for awards and recognizes colleagues regularly by baking monthly birthday cakes.

Millage says, “I really love educating and learning from others at the same time – whether it’s patients, families, colleagues or students.” As a care provider who’s certified in the Lee Silverman approach for Parkinson’s disease, Millage has taken this specialty to a whole new level in the last two years. She developed a community class to help former patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s. The class is now being offered at three additional Allina Health hospitals in the metro.

In the words of Lora Anderson, manager, Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute, Mercy Hospital, “Beth has the ability to connect with patients and meet them at their level. She demonstrates genuine interest in them, incorporating tasks into therapy that specifically address their goals. This allows for further development of a trust-based relationship.”

Beth Millage, PT, DPT Physical therapist at Mercy Hospital

As the manager of Sports Medicine Services at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Brent Millikin has helped establish the state of Minnesota and Allina Health as leaders in preventing concussion injuries in youth athletes. His extraordinary efforts make him an outstanding example of someone who represents the mission, vision and values of Allina Health.

As one of the key people who helped pass the recent law designed to prevent concussions in youth athletes, Millikin took time out of his personal life to meet and educate legislators and civic leaders to ensure the law’s eventual passage. Once the concussion law was passed, he was instrumental in communicating with the public about brain injuries in youth athletes by providing numerous interviews and serving as a community-wide expert on reducing traumatic brain injuries.

Millikin became involved in this effort because he saw a need within Allina Health and the broader community. Minnesota athletes, their families and Allina Health all benefit from Millikin’s extraordinary efforts.

“I felt this legislation was extremely important because there were processes in place to protect high school, collegiate and professional athletes from concussions, but none to protect the youth athlete,” said Millikin. “A young person’s brain is still developing and more susceptible to injury. Now we can provide vital education to coaches, officials and parents to help keep youth athletes safe.” Millikin’s work has benefited numerous youth athletes and will benefit many more in the years to come.

Brent Millikin, MEd, ATC Manager of Sports Medicine Services at Abbott Northwestern Hospital

Good leaders, such as Kari Nelson, nurse manager at Allina Medical Clinic - Shakopee and Allina Medical Clinic - Crossroads, not only bring their best selves to every job, they also inspire others to do the same. In the words of a colleague, “Kari is one of those consistently positive people you encounter in life that motivates and inspires you to be the best person you can be personally and professionally.”

Because of recent leadership changes, Nelson stepped into the interim clinic manager role at three different sites, handling her additional job duties with professionalism and ease. She has helped open several new clinic sites and is currently involved in the addition of a new clinic in Jordan.

In addition to balancing her many job responsibilities, Nelson volunteers her time to facilitate self-management workshops for patients and community members who are living with chronic pain conditions. She also serves uninsured and under-insured patients as a board member for the River Valley Nursing Center by helping connect them to local resources and free or low-cost health care services.

“Knowing that I can help make a patient feel empowered in his or her health, even in a small way, is rewarding,” says Nelson. She believes in leading by example, putting the patient’s needs first and acting with respect, compassion and professionalism. She takes the time to listen to patients, understand their needs and find solutions.

According to one team member, “It’s hard to put into words how inspiring Kari is. She has this amazing dedication and passion. She’s always coaching and encouraging us to be the best that we can be.”

Kari Nelson Nurse manager at Allina Medical Clinic – Shakopee and Allina Medical Clinic – Crossroads

As a transport aide at St. Francis Regional Medical Center, Juan Querubin’s passion for caring for others extends beyond his job each day. He began his role as a transport aide in order to gain experience with patients of all ages and cultural backgrounds – preparing him for his dream of working as a doctor. He is currently working on his degree at the University of Minnesota and aspires to enter medical school.

Chris Wolf, patient care manager of resource services at St. Francis Regional Medical Center, describes Querubin as a “polite, patient, dedicated worker who treats patients with kindness and dignity.”

Querubin is using his passion for health, wellness and public health to improve the lives of others. He took the lead on a youth program called “Middle School Mania,” which St. Francis Regional Medical Center helps sponsor. The program aims to educate youth about wellness fundamentals, as well as encourage students to increase physical activity by helping them set and monitor fitness goals. Sample topics include the link between sugary drinks and obesity, curbing television and electronic media time, and understanding portion distortion and nutrition facts labels.

Tamara Severtson, manager of Mission Integration at St. Francis Regional Medical Center and community engagement lead for the south metro for Allina Health, says that Querubin listens attentively to others and acts with humility. “Juan is committed to helping improve the health of everyone in our community whether it be youth, seniors, or people from diverse populations. Knowing that Juan aspires to become a doctor one day, I’m excited to see what the future holds for him,” she said.

Juan Querubin Transport aide at St. Francis Regional Medical Center

As the Substance Abuse Program manager at Unity Hospital, Duane Schaefer is committed to providing a positive influence as he serves others. Judy Hoaglund, patient care director for the Emergency Department, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Unit at Unity Hospital, describes him as a strong leader with a passion for service and commitment to patients and staff members. “Duane is someone who wants to make a difference and he puts that into practice,” she said. “He has a heart for service that is evident in the commitment of time and energy that he puts into serving our community.”

In addition to his dedication to assisting patients at Unity Hospital, Schaefer is currently serving as the chair on several community boards and serves on the Hennepin County Medical Reserve Corp and the Minnesota Behavioral Health Medical Reserve Corp. He was deployed for several days during the Duluth floods, volunteering his time to support others in their time of physical and emotional need.

Schaefer has logged more than 225 hours with Mission Matters by participating in community walks for the National Alliance for Mental Illness, Mental Wellness Campaign for Anoka County, Minnesota Recovery Connection and more. He has also provided training on substance abuse prevention for National Guard troops returning from active duty.

In Schaefer’s words, “I truly believe that we are all given a gift. And that gift is to be shared with others and be used to serve others. No matter if it’s time, an act or word of kindness…simple things can change lives in a big way. Why not take the opportunity to share one’s gift?”

Duane Schaefer Substance Abuse Program manager at Unity Hospital

Bonnie Verke, medical laboratory technician at Allina Medical Clinic – Champlin, transforms values from words on paper into everyday action. She strives to deliver exceptional patient care to every patient in every situation.

“My greatest reward is in knowing that I have done my best to make a positive difference in the lives of our patients,” says Verke. Her focus on patient care is evident through her actions; for example, when an elderly patient was driven to the clinic for a sample that was later mistakenly cancelled in the software system by the initial ordering clinic. Because it was difficult for the woman’s daughter to bring her back, Verke offered to go to the woman’s nursing home, bringing a nurse to collect another sample. She then stayed to visit with the woman while she ate her lunch.

Verke’s caring and compassionate service is not limited to patients. As the chair of an employee care committee, she rallies staff in support of individuals when medical events occur. Through fundraising efforts and a dinner delivery schedule, she ensures that sick team members can focus on themselves without the worry of feeding their families.

By acknowledging and celebrating employee and patient milestones she fosters a community of caring, often spending her own money and time to make homemade tokens of appreciation for staff. She also raises funds for families in the community who are in need, inspiring others to get involved. In the words of one team member, “Bonnie is a great example of what a difference one person can make and how contagious that can be.”

Bonnie Verke Medical laboratory technician at Allina Medical Clinic – Champlin

Carrie Weaver, RN, BSN, CCRN – CMC/CSC, is a ventricular assist device coordinator at Abbott Northwestern Hospital. Her keen organization skills and vast knowledge of devices have contributed to the successful management of patient care.

Weaver was instrumental in re-establishing the Left Ventricular Assist Device program (LVAD) at Abbott Northwestern Hospital. The program offers advanced options for patients with end-stage heart failure, including surgical interventions such as heart transplants and ventricular assist devices. Her oversight included policies and procedures, guidelines and order sets for the new program. She educated staff members about the care and management of patients with LVAD, as well as provided guidance for appropriate candidate selection, nursing management and statistic collection for the heart failure team.

According to Weaver, the most fulfilling thing about being involved in this process is “being able to see patients leave the hospital and go live their lives.” Patients facing life expectancy of just a few weeks gain the opportunity to add years to their life after receiving the surgically implanted device. “People are given the ability to go back to work, go on a cruise, walk around Europe, take care of grandchildren and watch their families grow,” she says.

Weaver often works evenings or weekends to teach family members how to care for their loved one on a LVAD as they prepare for discharge. Her flexibility greatly reduces the anxiety many families experience during such a stressful time.

JoEllen Evavold, heart transplant coordinator at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, describes Weaver as a “highly dedicated, energetic, self-motivated and compassionate person whose work has improved quality of life for many people. She was fundamental in creating a successful program and, most importantly, giving new life to many.”

Carrie Weaver, RN, BSN, CCRN – CMC/CSC Ventricular assist device coordinator at Abbott Northwestern Hospital

Lisa Weber, OD, optometrist at Allina Medical Clinic – Woodbury, is a humble, compassionate person who embodies the Allina Health mission and values. She continues to look for ways to improve the eye department, the community and help outside organizations.

Everyday Dr. Weber demonstrates she wants what’s best for patients. She makes herself available to see walk-in patients and double books her schedule, if necessary, to be sure that a patient is seen. Her volunteer activities include active membership roles in VOSH/Southeast (Volunteer Optometric Services for Humanity) and Relay for Life. In addition, she helps raise funds for equipment and glasses that are distributed on mission trips to places including Mexico, Paraguay and Uganda.

“Providing eye care to those who don’t have access is very important to me because if a person can’t see well, it’s hard to function and be productive. Having good vision not only allows people to do the things they need and want to do, it can affect their self-esteem and sense of well-being,” says Weber.

In May of 2012, Dr. Weber organized and oversaw a trip to Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas, Mexico. Eyeglasses were shipped ahead and, over the course of five days, more than 2,200 patients were seen for complete eye exams and more than 3,000 glasses were fitted and distributed to people in need. Dr. Weber is respected for her dedication to patients at the clinic and to serving others. She is a wonderful mentor and is looked up to by many for her caring and compassionate service.

Lisa Weber, ODOptometrist at Allina Medical Clinic – Woodbury

With falls as a leading cause of trauma-related Emergency Department visits for elderly patients as well as injury and mortality from trauma for adults over age 65, the work of the River Falls Area Hospital First STEP Falls Prevention Team is extremely important. This nine-member team provides the community with a preventative program aimed at continued health, wellness and functional independence.

Together, the group is dedicated to developing a comprehensive evidence-based falls prevention program that provides preventative measures and resources to seniors who are at risk of falling. This is accomplished through coordinated multidisciplinary assessments, therapies, recommendations and referrals aimed at decreasing hospital admissions, readmissions and Emergency Department visits.

The program accepts individuals who have fallen, including inpatients, Emergency Department patients, ambulance referrals, as well as clinic, assisted living, hospital, ambulance and community-based referrals. Since its inception in 2010, program participation has more than doubled, producing positive reportable results and continued independence for patients.

Due to the unpredictable nature of referrals, the team must always be ready to accommodate a new participant into their busy schedules. Six professional assessments (pharmacy, physical and occupational therapy, social service, nursing and dietary) must be completed before a comprehensive report and recommendations are sent to the patient’s primary physician.

Cynthia Bayer and Jennifer Smith lead the team, researching evidence-based tools such as the Timed Up and Go and the Elderly Falls Screening Tool to provide the greatest impact and outcome for patients. They also provide in-home visits for an environmental safety assessment and provide continued follow-up after completing the four physical therapy appointments. Each patient is in the program for one year, including phone call or home visit wellness checks every three months.

This dedicated team strongly believes in the patient, hospital and community value of this program and is motivated to share the success of their program. Each member of the team demonstrates compassion, stewardship and pride in their work and, together, they agree that the greatest rewards stem from the amazing relationships, outcomes and sincere gratitude from patients and their families.

River Falls Area Hospital First STEP Falls Prevention Team

Cynthia Bayer

Jennifer Smith

Elizabeth Black

Lindsey Fewer

Jan Hatling

Nick Maiers

Kathy Hoberg

Susan Nelson

Debra Sanders

The Sister Kenny STAR® Program (Survivorship, Training and Rehabilitation) Therapy Team is a dedicated group of therapists from 16 Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute and Sister Kenny Sports & Physical Therapy Center locations who worked together to create a cancer rehabilitation point-of-service delivery program. This team is being recognized for their dedication, initiative, teamwork and excellence in creating the largest cancer rehabilitation program in the country in a matter of months.

Creating this program required each team member to complete 20 hours of online oncology training modules before passing a rigorous test developed by the Oncology Rehabilitation Partners’ STAR Program®. The Sister Kenny team worked together across multiple sites, adapting to each other’s schedules, taking part in telephone conferences and traveling to other locations around the region to research and develop treatment outcome tools.

The result of these efforts is a model program to help cancer patients overcome debilitating side-effects of cancer treatment including lymphedema, fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, joint stiffness, weakness, cognitive problems, balance problems and difficulty with communication, swallowing or eating. Hundreds of patients throughout Allina Health have benefited from the program since it was implemented in April 2012.

Since the program began, the group has gathered for several Allina Health-wide teleconferences in which they train colleagues on implementation and development of the evaluations, outcome assessments and best practice protocols they have developed. According to Nancy Hutchison, MD, medical director for Cancer Rehabilitation and Survivorship, “the team showed incredible enthusiasm for the task they had taken on and worked together to accomplish something great. Their respect for their colleagues’ strengths and time management allowed them to achieve the goal of creating a service for cancer patients that was not previously available in the region.”

Since the development of the program, many of the Sister Kenny STAR Certified Clinician™ rehabilitation therapists have spent personal hours presenting, speaking to the media and educating oncology providers in their communities. Knowing the potential to positively impact all patients experiencing the side effects of cancer treatment, the team continues to provide professional and community education about the benefits of cancer rehabilitation and cancer survivorship.

Sister Kenny STAR Program® Cancer Rehabilitation Therapy Team

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